News
Retail garden sales drop in December

Feb. 24, 2014, Ottawa — Retail garden sales fell sharply in December, contributing to an overall drop in sales volume across all retail sectors.

Receipts at building material and garden equipment and supply dealers fell 8.2 per cent in December, according to Statistics Canada. This was the largest monthly decline since early 2010, when the federal home renovation tax credit was terminated.

Across all retail sectors, sales volume dropped 2.2 per cent. Retailers in most sectors, including those typically associated with holiday shopping, registered weaker sales than expected in December owing in part to the extreme weather that hit many parts of the country.